Jeff Schapiro, the Times-Dispatch‘s preeminent political reporter, has expanded his repertoire from print and PBS radio to video commentary. It’s good to see that the T-D is making progress in melding the resources of its old media newsroom with the new media capabilities of inrich.com.
The subject of Schapiro’s commentary is a favorite theme of Bacon’s Rebellion: the money nexus between business and governance. But Schapiro’s spin is a little different this time. Instead of emphasizing how big donors manipulate the political process for business advantage, he highlights how politicians from the Elephant Clan and Donkey Clan shake down businesses — manipulating business, if you will, for political advantage.
Speaking of the role of money in politics, it appears that Transurban USA, the American subsidiary of an Australian company that leases the Pocahontas Parkway and is building HOT lanes on the Capital Beltway in Northern Virginia, mistakenly made $172,000 in illegal contributions to Virginia politicians.
Oops.
Transurban USA asked that the money be returned so it can donate the money to a Virginia-based charity, the Court Appointed Special Advocate Program for children, reports Tyler Whitley with the Times-Dispatch. Michael Kulper, executive vice president for North America operations, began notifying the politicians yesterday of its apparently illegal activity.
Donations included:
- $5,000 to Moving Virginia Forward, the political committee of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine
- $12,500 to the Dominion Leadership Trust, the leadership PAC of House Speaker William J. Howell, R-Stafford;
- $12,000 to the Virginia Republican Senate Leadership Trust
- $10,500 to the Commonwealth Victory Fund, a Democratic Party of Virginia committee
All told, Democratic organizations and legislators received $73,000, and Republican legislators and organizations received $97,000 between 2005 and 2008.